Places to visit in Milan | An Insiders Guide

Places to visit in Milan

Places to Visit in Milan | An Insiders Guide

Milan is the capital of design & fashion. In fact, it is the capital of all except the political one! Milan is always known for its diversity and the number of places to visit.

Milan is famous not only for the Pizzas and Pasta, but also for the proximity to the wonderful vacation spots – be it in Swiss, or Austria or France or inside Italy’s attractive lakes, beaches, and mountains. This is what makes visiting places in Milan great fun.

Milan has been a gateway to Italy with its 3 international airports. And often many people consider this just as an entry/exit point to the many wonders of Italy. Most tourists consider Milan as a transit city and seldom do people explore the beauties of the city.

In this Milan travel guide, I will cover everything you need to know for a visit to Milan. What to do, what to see, what to eat, where to visit, and everything you need to explore this fashion city. 

Buckle up! Let’s take off.

Getting into and around Milan

So, what is the most important thing when visiting new cities? You are right, Commuting.

Central Station in Milan

Milan city is extensively connected with all sorts of transport you can think of. Yes, Buses, Metro, Subways, Light rails and all sorts of Trams. You can cover most of the top places to visit in Milan on Public Transport. If you are looking for details on different zones in Milan, fares etc, do not miss to read my Ultimate guide for public transport in Milan.

Airports

Milan has 2 main airports – Malpensa and Linate and is well connected to the external world. Bergama offers a low-cost airport Orio al Serio with flight services like Ryanair.

Getting into Milan from Malpensa airport is super easy. Just grab the Malpensa Express train and you will be in the city within an hour of an exciting journey. Alternatively, you can also take the Malpensa shuttle services from various private providers because they are economically priced.

Note: You get a discount if you buy the to & fro from the same provider. Why not grab it?

You can use the taxis from the airport to get to Milan for a flat charge of a flat cost of 95 Euro anywhere in the city of Milan.

If you are arriving from Bergamo or Linate airports, you can use the Airport bus to get to the centre of Milan.

In a few years, you should be able to take the Metro M4 directly from the Linate Airport. How few are these few years? Well, you are in Italy, and the few could be as low as a few couple of years to you know what.!!!

Train Station

When arriving in Milan using the Malpensa Express train, there is a high chance that you will put your legs down in the almost-a-century old architecture of the largest station in Europe. Yes, the famous Stazione Centrale of Milano.

Read our Ultimate Guide For Train Travel in Italy to know all about using the long-distance trains in Italy

In fact, your sightseeing tour to visit places in Milan starts at this very moment. The station is an architectural marvel, with a blend of modern shops and olden days architecture.

The next busiest station in Milan is the Porta Garibaldi. This neighbourhood is also a must-visit place in downtown Milan.

Vertical Garden of Milan

And this is where you will find the famous Bosco Verticale or the Vertical Garden.

Getting around places to visit in Milan

Metro, Trams and Bus

Milan has excellent connectivity through the Metro. Metro is fast, efficient, and affordable. The metro runs from about 6 am to 12 midnight.

Single trip tickets cost €2.20 each or you can also buy a set of 10 tickets for €18.00. If you are in Milan for a couple of days, my recommendation is to buy unlimited day passes (24 hours for €7.60 or 3 days for €13.00).

Milan’s iconic tram network is extensive and riding it will give you an excellent glimpse of Milan city while you ride.

Iconic tram of Milan

The integrated tickets provide access to any of the transport in Milan, including the Bus and tram that runs from around 4:30 am to a little after 2 am.

Car Sharing

As I mentioned before, Milan offers all sorts of possibilities for your commute here. You can leisurely plan your trips to visit places in Milan without the need to worry about the car parking problems in Milan with the numerous car-sharing programs.

Visit places in Milan using Car sharing

Car-sharing programs like Sharenow and Enjoy are the most famous ones in Milan because of the economic rates they offer. Will you believe that it only costs around 20 cents per minute?

Yes, go for the drive!

Iconic tram of Milan

Read the Ultimate Guide to Public Transport in Milan for more details on the tickets and zones.

Eco-Friendly Bikes

The summer season is when Milan becomes less crowded. Surprised? Yes, most people residing in Milan are all out on vacation, and most tourists prefer the south for the want of beaches in summer.

What is the best time to roam around the architecture of Milan and visit those places if not the time when it has fewer people around? Rent a bike, and explore the centre of Milan at your own pace.

Lazy to pedal those bikes? Do not worry, grab an e-bike or the mimoto bike.

The Best Time to Visit Milan

As I mentioned, summer is the best time for a visit to places in Milan. The longer duration of the sunlight in summer is an added advantage.

And remember summer months are really hot in Milan, so if you are not comfortable with such weather, planning your visit around June/July and September/October will be a great one.

How Much It Costs to Visit Milan

Milan is the economical and fashion capital of Italy so it’s a bit expensive when it comes to hotels and stays. On the other hand, Milan has a lot of low-cost flight connections so you might be able to get good discounts on travel expenses with cheap airfare.

Cost fo living in Italy
  • Food: €30/day
    • Breakfast: €5 (A cappuccino, brioche and Orange juice/Water bottle)
    • Lunch: €10 (Pizza with a drink or similar lunch menus)
    • Dinner: €15 (Nominal dinner menus from a decent restaurant)
  • Transportation: €7.60 (Day pass, but you can easily walk almost everywhere)
  • Accommodation: €30+/night for hostels and €60+ for B&Bs

It goes without saying that these estimations do not include your favourite Spritz or Wine. Neither is your expense on those eye-catching goodies you may purchase on your trips around the places you visit in Milan. Do allot some money for such essential expenses.

How Many Days To Plan for Milan

If you are looking for only the places within Milan, you can plan a maximum of 3 days. Yes, with the day pass and walk in the centre, you will be good to cover most of the places to visit in Milan in less than 3 days.

Must-Visit Places in Milan

Duomo

What’s a trip to Milan without a selfie with the most impressive structure in Milan on Instagram? Yes, Duomo is top on the list of places to visit in Milan.

Famous Duomo of Milan

Milan Cathedral, commonly known as Duomo di Milano in Italian, is a vast Gothic-style cathedral, located in the heart of Milan. It is more than 500 ft long and 300 ft wide and can house up to 40.000 people. The cathedral is one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.

I would recommend a visit to the terrace of the Duomo to have a glimpse of Milan from the top. Walking all the way is the best way to do it (Costs €13), but there are lifts (Costs €17) available if you prefer to.

The pinkish-white marbles you see on the walls of Duomo were all bought from the nearby Lake Maggiore through a special canal system. The canals or the Navigli were built exclusively to aid in the construction of Duomo. These canals are still in Milan, when you find some time, rent a bike and ride along the famous Navigli Martesana.

The standard ticket to visit just the cathedral costs €3.50. Remember, the ticket lines will be insanely long so skip the ticket lines by purchasing your tickets online for a specific time slot. Buy tickets directly from the Duomo Website.  

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Galleria near Duomo of Milan

Right next to Duomo, you will find Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is one of the world’s oldest shopping malls. The name was given after the first King of the Kingdom of Italy.

This impressive covered arcade now houses luxury cafés and high-end designer boutiques.

Did you notice the picture of a bull on the Mosaic under the glass dome? Tradition says that if a person spins around three times with a heel on the testicles of the bull it will bring good luck.

Whether it really brings good luck or not, this practice has only caused damage to the mosaic.

Sforzesco Castle

Castle of Milan

Once you have explored the Duomo area, walk through the streets of Via Dante (full of shopping centres) to reach for the 15th century built castle – Sforza Castle.

The first fortification on this site was built in 1368. Years later it was enlarged and became a splendid ducal palace. During the Golden Ambrosian Republic, it was completely destroyed.

The Sforza family reconstructed the castle and made it into one of the most magnificent residences in Italy.

Today it houses multiple smaller museums with works from Da Vinci and Michelangelo and a beautiful courtyard. Parco Sempione can be accessed through its regal courtyards. This large park is an excellent place to visit with kids in Milan. There is also an aquarium inside for visits.

Walk of Fame

Do you know, Italy had its own version of the Oscars?

Yes, it is called Notte di Telegatto. The award was sponsored by the weekly magazine TV Sorrisi & Canzoni. The winners were made to make an impression of their hands or signature on a tile, which was used near the office of the weekly magazine TV Sorrisi. Even though the office was moved out, the tiles still lay buried in its original location – Largo Corsia dei Servi, 21, Milan.

Hollywood superstars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, and Madonna have all been honoured with this award.

The excitement of this Walk of Fame was lost when the event moved to Rome in 2004. But unfortunately, it has been discontinued and has not been continued for years now.

Today, there is a community that works towards saving this historical tourist spot – called Save the Walk of Fame.

It is just a couple of minutes walk from Milan Duomo. It is on the open pathway, and there are no tickets to visit. Make sure to click your next picture here and make this one of the hot spots for Instagram!

La Scala

La Scala in Milano

There is no artist in the world who has not dreamed of performing here. Yes, the Scala Opera House is one of the most famous opera houses in the world and it has hosted some of the most well-known operas and ballets for over 200 years.

From the outside, the famous opera temple looks rather plain with its neoclassical façade. But once inside you can enjoy its beauty and the typical character of the theatre for development.

The 2200 spectators were found in the stalls, in four rows of boxes for 4 to 6 people and the overlying galleries course.

There are guides available to explore this place. On the tour, you will discover the secrets of the famous opera house with an expert guide. You visit the La Scala Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of costumes, musical instruments and portraits. A must-visit place in Milan if you are an Opera fan.

Naviglio

Grand Naviglio of Milan

One of the great places to hang out in Milan is Naviglio. The canal dates back hundreds of years. Dozens of bars, restaurants, design shops, art galleries etc are lined up along this canal. Hence the area gets packed with people enjoying the nightlife.

It is a charming area, where you can have a pleasant walk or have an aperitivo Milanese with your friends. Ha, do not miss those Spritz!

Are you fond of vintage articles?

Then head to this place. You can grab your favourite articles from this vintage bazaar held on the last Sunday of the month.

Leonardo Da Vinci Science & Technology Museum

Enrico Toti submarine in Milan Museum

The Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science & Technology is the largest science and technology museum in Italy. I tell you, it would be too difficult if you want to enjoy every aspect here.

Because it features exhibits that span everything from transportation and energy to Da Vinci’s great inventions. You can never miss the Enrico Toti submarine, a very interesting display. You have very few places to feel and explore a submarine, one of those is right here in Milan from 2005.

Never miss visiting this place in Milan.

Wondering how they managed to bring this 340-ton majestic elephant inside the centre of the city. Well, it travelled a distance of more than 1000 KM from Sicily to Milan. First through the River Po till Cremona, and from there on land to Milan.

Watch the 1000+ kilometers journey of Enrico Toti Submarine from Sicily to Milan.

Credit: Google Arts & Culture.

One-Day Trips From Milan

Milan is strategically located in the north of Italy with easy access to mountains in the Alps to the beautiful beaches in the Liguria region. All it takes is just a couple of hours of drive.

So, you can include tons of places as one-day trips from Milan.

Lake Como

One of the most popular day trips from Milan is the beautiful Lake Como. Do you know? This is the birthplace of the Italian physicist, and chemist, Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the Electrical Battery.

You can easily reach the pristine lake using Italy’s railway network. The regional trains run from Milan to Como frequently, taking around 40 minutes. There are trains from both Milan’s Stazione Centrale and Stazione Porta Garibaldi and arrive at San Giovanni, Como’s main station.

Lake Como has several interesting villages to visit. Enjoy those ferry rides between Bellagio, Menaggio, and Varenna village.

You can also combine visiting Lecco during the visit to Como. It is easy to take the same ferry from Como to reach Lecco after visiting the above 3 villages.

Bergamo

Bergamo is a twin city (or should I say split city!) in the Italian region of Lombardy. This city is located about an hour from Milan. It would very opt to call this as the gateway of Milan through the low-cost airlines.

It consists of lower or Citta Bassa and upper city or Citta Alta. Both these cities are connected by a beautiful funicular train and walking trails. When you arrive on the train to Bergamo, you land in the lower city. Take a funicular ride and reach for the upper city.

I bet it would be an unusual sight for you located on a hilly mountain with stunning views of Alps. This Citta Alta is a walking city, so be prepared with good shoes and explore those cobblestone alleys and impressive churches. There are also beautiful 400-year-old city walls that you can walk along.

The train ride between Milan and Bergamo takes around an hour.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is easily accessible by train from Milan. There are two stations from where you can transit to the lake — Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda.

Similar to other lakes around Milan, you’ll find small towns surrounding this lake too — each with something to offer visitors. You can engage yourselves with tons of hiking and outdoor activities. If looking to rising your adrenaline rush, a cable car that hoists you high above the lake.

Lake Iseo

Like Lake Garda, this lake is also dotted with beautiful perfectly designed towns and smaller villages all around. My personal preference among those is Iseo, Sarnico and Lovere.

Iseo, the largest town on the lake is situated on the southwest shore. Its medieval structure catches the eye with compact buildings overlooking the lake and narrow alleys entering the old town.

Sarnico, another jewel of Sebino, is renowned worldwide as the cradle of recreational boating with its wide-ranging production of exclusive speedboats and yachts, but it is also a delightful tourist town that has preserved the local spirit and its traditions.

Lovere, a poetic hamlet is located on the north-western tip of the lake. Lovere is a romantic village with Tredici Martiri Square lined by refined 19th-century buildings overlooking the lake and has a network of trails for trekking addicts.

Sebina Express from Milan

During the month of August-September, the F.T.I. – Ferrovie Turistiche Italiane or Italian Tourist Railway offers a picturistic ride on their famous historical train “Sebino Express“. If you happen to be in Milan, do not miss it.

A must-read: Experience the historic train ride from Milan to Lake Iseo.

Turin

Turin is a famous metropolitan city — in fact, it’s often called the Paris of Italy thanks to its beautiful architecture. With the high-speed train connection, it is only about a 60-90 minute train ride from Milan.

Egyptian Museum, the royal palaces of Stupinigi and Venaria, the city’s Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture, grand boulevards, lots of great old-school cafes, etc are some of the wonderful places to fall in love.

My personal recommendation — The National Museum of Cinema.

Cinema Museum in Turin

It is located in the architectural landmark of the city of Turin. With a height of 167.5 meters, it was the tallest brick building in Europe in 1889. Today it still allows visitors to go up to the terrace which is 85 meters high using the panoramic lift and enjoy the amazing views of the city and the surrounding Alps.

Verona

Verona, which seems to be most famous for being the home every lover dreams of visiting. Yes, the home of Romeo and Juliet. Verona is a beautifully romantic and vibrant medieval town.

The cobblestone streets with nice sidewalk cafes and restaurants attract a lot of tourists during the summer. And most of them head towards one place — Juliet’s balcony.

Juliet Balcony in Verona

The arena, the Roman amphitheatre built in the first century, is the other major attraction of Verona. Even today, this famous Arena conducts many Opera programs.

Do you know? The closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics 2026 is planned to be organized in this Arena.

Pisa

Pisa needs no introduction, thanks to the leaning tower of Pisa.

Leaning tower of Pisa for a one day trip from Milan

The distance from Milan and the connectivity with the high-speed trains make it easy for an excellent one-day trip. When we visited here we walked through the streets of Pisa to reach the historical Tower. Every street was full of roadside shops selling all antics and good old days stuff.

Good luck with your numerous attempts for a perfect selfie balancing the tower!!!

Venice

Venice, the land of Canals is every tourist’s dream when visiting Italy.

Venice, any day favorite one day trip from Milan

Many of them end up with just St. Marks Square or the Rialto Bridge. No, there is more to Venice. Get a water taxi, and head to Murano and Burano. Murano is currently famous for the Glass Museum, the Church of San Donato, and the furnaces where it is possible to see how blown glass is born.

Burano is famous for handcrafted lace-making, today we can see the ladies sit at the doors of their colourful houses to weave the most impressive lace provided in beautiful ways.

Venice is connected with high-speed train connections from Milan. To avoid any disappointment, book early. There is a direct passenger water bus service between Murano & Venice. The ticket’s cost is about €10, plus a supplement if bought onboard.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is another stunning part of Italy near Genova which can be easily reached for a day trip from Milan. Especially for those trek/hike lovers.

Cinque-Terre

The main attraction of Cinque Terre is the five small fishing villages with pastel-coloured housing and the hiking trails that connect them. These famous towns can be crowded during peak seasons. So picking a late evening slot for the trail would be advisable.

The train journey from Milan takes a couple of hours so starting early from Milan is a must.

Camogli

Camogli, one of Italy’s best-kept secret beaches is another fishermen village in Liguria.

Camogli, a beautiful fisherman village near Genova.

Every year, on the second Sunday of May there is a Fish Festival (Sagra del Pesce) that takes place on the Piazza Colombo in Camogli. This famous event attracts 1000s of people from all over Italy. On this day, 100s of kilograms of fish are deep-fried in a huge pan and served free to all visitors.

From Milan, the train journey takes somewhere between 2 to 3 hours depending on if you are on a Regional trains or the Intercity. Note that some train journey needs a change in Genova station, so book carefully.

Bernina Express

How about a one-day visit to Swiss?

St Moritz of Switzerland

Yes, you heard me right. St.Moritz in Switzerland can be a wonderful journey for a one-day trip from Milan. The journey on those panoramic trains is simply amazing. Be it the white sheet of snow in winter or the multi-colour postcard-perfect picture in Autumn, this route is one of my favourites.

There are regular trains from Milan to Tirano, from where you take this Bernina Express to St.Moritz.

What to Taste

Il Cibo. Yes, Food!!!

Italian food

From the expensive Ristorante Cracco to our next-door budget-friendly restaurant, Milan has a lot of variants to offer to everyone.

Aperitivos

If you ask me, aperitivo is more of a culture than food. These are excellent ways to spend your evenings and get to make new friends. Get your Spritz and taste the unlimited food, all for around €10. Interesting isn’t it?

Pizza

Hmmm, what is Italian for Pizza?

Never mind. Every street in Milan will have one Pizzeria. But Pizzeria Spontini is famous for those Pizza al Trancio that you can grab on the go. If you are looking for a sedate lunch, go ahead with the Rosso Pomodoro where you can find numerous variety of Pizzas.

Panzerotti

Panzerotti is a fluffy fried dough half-moon stuffed with tomato, mozzarella cheese, and other fillings. Ask any Milanese, and he will point you to Luini, for a tasty Panzerotti.

Cotoletta

Cotoletto is nothing but meat cooked with flour like a cutlet. It can have chicken, veal or other meats as well.

Risotto

Risotto is North Italian rice cooked with broth until it reaches a creamy consistency. The broth can be derived from meat, fish, or vegetables. Many types of risotto contain butter, onion, white wine, and parmesan cheese.

Try the Risotto alla Milanese from a traditional restaurant.

Gelato

Say a Fromage as Cheese and see how easily a French is pissed. It’s the same with Italian. Icecreams are not Gelato. OK?

I can bet you that you can never go wrong with Gelato anywhere in Milan. Try them all, now.

Coffee

Italy and Coffee are inseparable. Every Italian morning starts with an Espresso. Most of them have a Cappuccino at breakfast (only). Never make the mistake of what I did during the dinner – ordering a Cappucino!

Coffee is not just coffee, it has so many flavours – Espresso, Caffe-Macchiato, Latte-Macchiato, Cappucino, Marocchino, etc.

And my favourite is Marocchino.

Bonus Tips & Tricks

With the list of places to visit in and around Milan, here are some bonus tips for you.

Rick Steves Free Audio Walking Tour: Rick Steves, does not know this most respected person when it comes to travelling in Europe. His site has an excellent free resource including the self-guided audio walking tour of the Duomo and more tourist attractions. We used it when we visited and found it interesting. Check it out here.

Insure Your Trip: I cannot stress the importance of Insurance. I am sure that with the recent pandemic (COVID-19) all travellers will appreciate it as well. Read the Top 5 reasons why you should buy Travel Insurance.

Get A Good Mobile connection: In the world of the internet, it would be very easy for us to keep connected to the digital world. Choose from the numerous mobile network in Milan that offers tons of GB for data. If possible, keep downloading an offline map of Milan from Google.

The Best Nightlife in Milan: Fashion cities like Milan, do not lack in nightlife. The best bars, restaurants, clubs, etc are found around Corso Como, Brera, and the Navigli Neighborhood.  

Free Museum Days: All the civic museums in Milan are free on the first Sunday of the month. A small saving on the trips!

No Need to Tip: Your tip is already included in your bill. So you don’t need to tip unless you feel like you need to leave something extra for your friendly service. 

Safety: As with the other parts of the world, the most popular tourist attraction is also a favourite spot for pickpockets. Be cautious, especially when you board any of those Trams / Buses.

I have included the top-visited places in Milan in this Milan travel Guide, from my own experience of living in this beautiful city. Feel free to comment with your feedback and let me know what is your pick on the places to visit in Milan.

Happy Traveling.

Photo by Szymon Fischer on Unsplash

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.